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Welcome to the CruiserThe United States Navy

stands ever ready to protect thedemocratic way of life and to goto the aid of allied nationsthreatened with aggression. It isone of the prime deterrentsthroughout the world.

This ship is but a small partof the 200 ships that make upthe Atlantic Fleet CruiserDestroyer Force. Its crew isrepresentative of the UnitedStates...men from all sections

of the country...constantlytraining to make this ship thebest fighting unit possible.

Like all warships of theworld, this ship's mission is toserve as a highly mobile combatunit that can move swiftly, atany time, to any spot on thewater surfaces of the earth.

Ships of the cruiser anddestroyer type have played avital part in naval history, are

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Destroyer Force, Atlantickey ships of the fleets today,and with nuclear power andguided missiles, have an im-portant role in the future. Theyare now, and will continue,steaming on the front lines tokeep open the vital sea lanes ofthe world.

The Cruiser-Destroyer Force,Atlantic, is the largest singletype command in the world. Its200 ships are homeported onthe East Coast and Gulf Coasts

of the United States from Port-land, Maine, to Galveston,Texas. Their operations, how-ever, cover the entire AtlanticOcean, Caribbean, Mediterra-nean Seas, Indian Ocean andadjoining sea areas.

We are pleased to welcomeyou aboard and hope that byvisiting us, you may becomebetter acquainted with theUnited States Navy, its ships,and the men who sail them.

Cruiser-Destroyer Seapower MissionFor many years, destroyers

have carried the unofficial titleof "key ships of the fleet."Since the turn of the century,destroyer type ships haveproved themselves as the mostversatile weapon afloat. Rela-tively economical and easy toproduce, destroyers have beenin the front-line of sea actionsof all kinds in the past and willbe in the future.

The first destroyer, USS Bain-bridge (DD-1), was commis-sioned in 1902. It, and its fol-lowers provided the answer tothe German submarine threatwhen they answered the call toaction created by World War I.

Even before the U. S. entry into WW II, U.S. destroyers werein the action. Destroyer ReubenJames was torpedoed and sunkwhile on Atlantic patrol in Oct-ober 1941.

After December 7, 1941, de-stroyers, and the smaller destroy-er escorts again showed the im-portance of their power andmobility. They proved theirworth in convoying hundreds ofmerchant ships, serving asscreens around the ever-expand-ing fast carrier task forces,searching out and sinking sub-marines, and shooting downenemy planes.

in the Korean Conflict, theirrelatively shallow draft allowed

them to cruise close-in to sinkenemy shipping and providebombardment on strategic air-fields and supply points inland.

With modernization of weaponsand equipment in the pastdecade, the characteristics ofcruisers and destroyers becamemore and more similar. InApril 1962, in view of the sim-ilarity of modern weapons, equip-ment, power plants and the like-ness of resulting problems andrequirements related to them,the Cruiser Force and the De-stroyer Force of the Atlanticwere combined to form Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet.

Among the ships in the Forceare several different types ofWorld War II vessels, modernizedand equipped with the latestantisubmarine weapons and de-tector gear to extend their life.

Post World War II destroyers,approaching the size of lightcruisers, are armed with surface-to-air dual purpose guns andhoming torpedoes for use againstsubmarines, and are the epitomeof versatility in seapower. Mostmodern type to join the Force isthe nuclear-powered guidedmissile frigate USS Bainbridge.

Cruisers serving the Forcerange from the Newport News,commissioned in 1949, to thenuclear powered guided missilecruiser, USS Long Beach.

They Are

A Proud Group

That Man DestroyersDestroyermen are from every

state in the Union and are of allfaiths. They are proud to wearthe uniform of the Navy, and areready to protect the freedom andsecurity of the United States.

"...Destroyermen have always been a proud people. They havebeen the elite. They have to be a proud people and they have to bespecially selected, for destroyer life is a rugged one. It takesphysical stamina to stand up under the rigors of a tossing DD.It takes even more spiritual stamina to keep going with enthusiasmwhen you are tired and you feel that you, and your ship, are beingused as a workhorse. It is true that many people take destroyersfor granted and that is all the more reason why the destroyerCaptains can be proud of their accomplishments.'*

Admiral Arleigh A. Burke

RADM G. E. BELKNAP RADM R R. BELKNAP

The USS BELKNAP (DLG-26) is named for the two dis-tinguished Naval Officers pictured above. These twoAdmirals are father and son. The first, RADM GeorgeE. Belknap, USN, was born on January 221 l8j2 at New-port, New Hampshire» He was appointed Midshipman in184-7 and served in the Navy with distinction until heretired in 289-4. During this time RADM G.E. BelknapCommanded the Iron Clad Canonicus during the firingon, and surrender of Charleston, S.C., and he alsoCommanded the USS HARTFORD on the Asiatic Stationwhen he led the expidition against Formosa.

Rear Admiral Reginald R. Belknap was born inMaiden, Massachusetts on June 26, l8?l. He grad-uated from Annapolis in 1891 and served in the Navyuntil he retired in 192?» Rear Admiral R.R. BelknapCommanded the USS SAN FRANCISCO, USS DELWARE, USSCOLORADO, and was Commander, Mining and Mine SweepingDivision, Atlantic Fleet, and Commander Mine SquadronOne. While Commander Mine Squadron One, Rear AdmiralR.R. Belknap developed the art of mine warfare to sucha point that he has been called "The Father of MineWarfare."

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USS BELKNAP is the second ship of the Navy to bearthis name. She is the first of a new class of nineforemounted guided missile Frigates. BELKNAP carriesthe most modern advanced weapons systems afloat givingher the capability to deal effectively with any threaton, overt or under the high seas, BELKNAP's mission isto operate offensively either independently, or withstrike, antisubmarine, or amphibious forces against sub-marine, air, and surface threats. BELKNAP's powerfulsonar, ASROC, torpedo, and DASH installations equip herto fight and Hill submarines at extended ranges. BELKNAP'ssupersonic TERRIER guided missiles have the capabilityof intercepting and destroying aircraft many miles fromtheir intended target. In addition, BELKNAP has a com-pletely computerized NTDS system in CICt and she is thefirst guided missile Frigate to carry this system in theU.S. Atlantic Fleet. Indicated below are some of the im-pressive statistics of this fine new addition to theCruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Length Overall: 54? Feet Maximum Beam: 55 Feet

Displacement: 7930 Tons Speed: In excess of 30 knots

Propulsions Steam Turbine-Twin Screw Draft: 29 Feet

Armanent: TERRIER Guided Missiles, ASROC rocketpropelled antisubmarine weapon. One5-inch 54 caliber and two J-inch $0caliber and two MK-32, and two MK-2$torpedo tube installations DASH, droneanti-submarine helicopter.

CAPTAIN JOHN TOWNLEY LAW, USN

John Townley Law was born in Chicago, Illinois, on24 August, 19l8» He received his Bachelor of ScienceDegree from Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin. On 16January 1942, he was commissioned Ensign at the USNRMidshipman School, Northwestern University, Nineteenyears later on 1 July 1961, he was commissioned Captain,the rank he now holds.

As an Ensign he was assigned to the USS SAPELO(AQ-11) for eighteen months* Then Lieutenant (jg)Law then transfered to the USS FAYETTE (APA-43) wherehe served as Navigator till the end of the war. Hewas promoted to Lieutenant in April 1944. After thewar. Captain Law attended the General Line School atAnnapolis, Maryland, for one year. While there he waspromoted to Lieutenant Commander. From March 194? toFebruary 1949 he served as Aide and Flag Secretary toCommander Naval forces Philippines. From there he wentto the USS PASADENA (CL-65) where he served as Navigatorand Operations Officer.

After a tour of duty in the Staff of Commandant 12thNaval District, Captain Law served as Executive Officerof the USS OWEN (DD-536), Commanding Officer of the USSPARLE (DE-?08), and Commanding Officer of USS BARRY(DD-9331*

Captain Law Has attended the Armed Forces StaffCollege and the Naval War College. Prior to assumingCommand of BELKNAP Captain Law served in the Office ofthe Chief of Naval Operations as the Head of Inter-national Program Branch*

Captain Law is married to the former Lydia CorneliaKooistra of Conrad, Montana. Mrs. Law was a formerLieutenant Commander in the Navy Nurse Corps and hadactive war service in the Pacific as a Flight Nurse.They have three children: John, Jr. 13> Daniel, 10 fElizabeth 6,

COMMISSIONING 7 NOVEMBER 1964

CHRISTENING20 July 1963

LAUNCHING20 July 1963

Life Aboard

CRUISERS And DESTROYERS

is a busy life with plenty of work....

but with good food and time to relax.

DDR (Radar Picket Destroyer)

DE (Destroyer Escort)

DER (Radar Picket Escort Ship)

USS Henley (DD 762) A Gearingclass destroyer commissionedin 1948. Speedy, maneuverable,defense against subs, surfaceand air attacks. Also acts asscreen, transport, scout andrescue ship.

SHIPSUSS K. D. Bailey (DDR-713)Commissioned 1945 as DD, laterfitted out with early warningradar to serve as long rangepicket ship against enemy air-craft. Some also employ vari-able depth sonar for antisub-marine picket work.

OF THEUSS Claude Jones (DE 1033)Destroyer escorts are especial-ly designed for optimum per-formance in locating and de-stroying submarines, and forfast convoy escort work. Joneswas commissioned in 1959 andcarries latest air and submarinedetection gear.

FORCEUSS T. J. Gary (DER 326) Com-missioned 1943. Former DEsrigged to detect enemy actionat sea or in the air. Carrythe latest in air and surfacesearch radar equipment.

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USS Perry (DD 8U) FRAM(Fleet Rehabilitation and Mod-ernization) lengthens servicelife of DDs, DDRs and DDEs.Adds weapons such as Destroy-er Antisubmarine Helicoptersand Antisubmarine Rockets.

SHIPSUSS Mitscher (DL 2) Formerlydestroyer leader, DLs are de-digned to engage in hunter-kill-er operations. Has clearedstern for helicopters. Last ofthe destroyer classes to carryconventional weapons only.

OF THEUSS Sellers (DDG 11) DDGs,used in offense or defenseagainst supersonic aircraft ormodern submarines, have new,longer hull design, and arearmed with AntisubmarineRockets and Tartar missiles.

FORCEUSS Bainbridge (DLG(N) 25)World's first atomic powered de-stroyer. Commissioned in 1962,it embodies ASW torpedoes,Antisubmarine Rockets andTerrier missiles fore and aft.Speeds well in excess of 30knots.

DD (FRAM I)

DL (Frigate)

DDG (Guided Missile Destroyer)

DLG(N) (Nuclear Guided Missile Frigat«

CA (Heavy Cruiser)

CAG (Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser)

CGN (Nuclear Guided Missile Cruiser)

AD (Destroyer Tender)

USS Newport News (CA US) isvirtually a city within itself.CAs are armed with conven-tional weapons only. Theyserve as a floating heavy gunplatform to engage the enemy onland, at sea or in the air.

SHIPSVSS Canberra (CAG 2), commis-sioned in 1943, was convertedto CAG in 1956. Terrier guidedmissiles for anti-aircraft de-fense, are backed by conven-tional guns. She can also serveas mobile headquarters forfleet commanders.

OF THEUSS Long Beach (CG(N) 9)commissioned in 1961, is theworld's first and only nuclear-powered cruiser. Swift andpowerful, it possesses unprec-endented striking power. Talosand Terrier missiles are backedby ASROC antisubmarinerockets.

FORCEUSS Yosemite (AD 19) Mothership for cruisers and destroyers.Tenders provide supply, repair,medical and dental, and main-tenance to Force ships whenthey operate beyond the reachof yard facilities.

"We must recognize above all that the real strength of ournation rests upon moral and spiritual values . . . "

Rear Admiral E. B. Taylor, COMDESLANT, 19 December 1958